Karan and Aditi decided to leave from Aastha's home. As they walked past Ajinkya's room, they heard him speak to himself. "First Avdhoot went missing... It has been three months now... I am not able to find him... And now this Aastha ran away! Avdhoot! You and your daughter have caused me a lot of trouble!! I won't leave you both! Just let me find you... And then you both are finished!"
Aditi and Karan exchanged glances and left at once.
"Any message from Aastha?" asked Karan as he drove to drop Aditi home.
"Nope..." replied Aditi, "Not yet... But she will call soon..." She looked at Karan and said, "Your parents must be really upset that Aastha ran away, right? What are you going to tell them?"
"Yes, they are a bit shocked actually... I don't know how, but I will handle them... Don't worry... I will tell them everything at the right time, not now..." replied Karan.
*****
Aastha wondered where her Baba was. But somewhere she knew that he was alright and safe for now. After all, Shlok was there with them, always! Aastha remembered days from the past...
*Flashback*
Aastha always shared a very strong friendship with Aditi and Shlok. She had not one but two best friends! It was a very pure friendship... No hard feelings, no feeling jealous, no complaints... The three were together till they completed their engineering from the same college, though their branches were different. Shlok's family shifted to Pune but Shlok stayed till he completed his graduation. Later Shlok went to pursue his MBA and Aastha and Aditi joined their jobs. Shlok had his family business to join. His father, Niranjan Agnihotri, had his name among the leading businessmen currently in the western region of India. "Agnihotri and Sons" had become a well-known brand now.
The college days were some of the best days in Aastha's life. She got to know Shlok and Aditi more. Aditi was like a sister to Aastha. And Shlok... he was a very special friend, whom Aastha trusted the most, on whom she could depend for almost anything and everything, who she knew would always be there whenever she needed him. Shlok always chose Aditi when he wanted to tease or make fun or for just passing the time or chatting... But when it came to serious discussions, sharing some personal issues, taking important decisions, venting out about something... it was always Aastha for him. And Aastha liked that. She liked to see that Shlok trusted her.
When Aastha came to know the truth about Ajinkya, she was shattered. She had hardly come out of the shock of Kalindi's death and Avdhoot's memory loss, when she had to face another grave truth. The only thing that came to her mind at the moment was 'Shlok'. She called him immediately.
"Hi Aastha... Calling at this time? No office today?" he asked receiving the call.
"Shlok..." said Aastha, crying. She didn't know what to tell him and from where to begin.
Shlok was worried listening to Aastha's voice. "What happened Aastha? Tell me... Is everything alright? It doesn't seem so..." But Aastha was so shocked that she couldn't speak anything. "Aastha?! Are you there?" asked Shlok checking whether the call was still on. He heard Aastha's sobs. "Aastha... Please say something! I am tensed now..."
"Please come here Shlok... I need you!" said Aastha, crying.
"Trust me, I am with you" said Shlok. "Will you first tell me what has happened? How will I know if you don't tell me anything Aastha..."
"I just want to hug you... I want a tight hug! I just want to hold you and cry... Cry till I am left with no life!"
Now Shlok was more worried. "What are you saying Aastha! Okay, listen to me... I will leave immediately from Pune and be there in another three and half hours, okay?" Aastha didn't say anything. "OKAY??" Shlok asked again.
"Please come soon..." said Aastha through her tears.
"Yes... But till then, you need to be strong... Take care, Aastha... And I will stay in touch even when I am on my way, ok?"
Shlok left from Pune immediately.
Aastha had a decision to make. Well, she had already decided what to do, she needed to act now. And that she had to do before Ajinkya returned from wherever he had gone. She unlocked the door and entered her home. She tried to comfort Avdhoot who was scared and in shock. Aastha quickly packed Avdhoot's clothes in a bag and left with Avdhoot.
Shlok was constantly in contact with Aastha to check whether she was alright. He met her at the decided place. He was confused to see her with Avdhoot and a bag in hand. Aastha told him everything. Shlok was as shocked as Aastha was. Aastha hugged him. "I didn't know what to do, Shlok! I just needed you to be with me... I am sorry I called you here without giving you any time but..."
Shlok carressed Aastha gently, "Aastha... Whom will you call if not me... You did the right thing! See, I am here now... No need to worry..."
"Shlok, I don't want Baba to stay here any more... I can't see him suffer like this... I don't know where he will go, but I just don't want him to stay here... So I packed his things... And... I don't know... I just..." Aastha couldn't stop the tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Aastha... Relax!" said Shlok trying to calm Aastha down. "Look, I am here now, ain't I? There's nothing to worry..." He thought for a while and said, "I will take Avdhoot uncle with me to Pune"
"But... Where will you keep him? I mean... where will he stay?" Aastha asked, without much thought.
"Leave that to me, Aastha... Just remember that he will be safe, okay?" said Shlok without thinking further. Aastha nodded. She thought this was the best thing to do right now. There was not much time to think.
Looking at Avdhoot, Aastha said, "Baba... This is Shlok, my best friend. He will take you to some place safe. Okay?"
Avdhoot looked at Shlok doubtfully. Though Avdhoot and Shlok had known each other very well, Avdhoot didn't remember anything. "I am not going with anyone! Everyone is bad in this world! I don't want to..."
"Baba, Shlok is a very nice person. I know him very well, Baba. Please, listen to me. Do you want to stay with Ajinkya Kaka?" Avdhoot nodded in 'no'. "Then go with Shlok... Please?"
Shlok assured Avdhoot that he was safe and there won't be any trouble. After a lot of efforts, Aastha and Shlok were finally able to convince Avdhoot.
"You must leave now, Shlok" said Aastha.
"Aastha, you should also come with us... Staying here isn't safe for you any more" suggested Shlok.
"I know, Shlok... But I have to settle things at office. I can't just leave. I will have to serve a notice period of three months after I resign. I will resign tomorrow itself" said Aastha calculating everything in her mind.
"Are you sure you will stay here?" asked Shlok, concerned. Aastha nodded. "Okay... Be safe! Ofcourse we will be in touch constantly. Don't hesitate to call me any time you need, okay?"
"If that was the case, I wouldn't have called you today, Shlok... Thank you so much for being there, always..." replied Aastha.
"Ah... Stop being formal, Aastha! I will always be there for you" said Shlok with an assuring smile.
Aastha's eyes watered as Shlok and Avdhoot were leaving for Pune. Shlok gently placed his hand on Aastha's shoulder. Pressing a little, he said, "Trust me, I am with you!"
Those words of Shlok always gave Aastha a unique strength. She felt positive every time he said those.
_____
But where is Baba? wondered Aastha. Shlok might have kept him at some good place. Some good old-age home may be... Shlok never told Aastha about it. He always used to say "Trust me" and Aastha knew her Baba was safe because Shlok was there to take care of him. But where was Shlok?
*****
Aastha suddenly heard some noise near one of the windows. She looked in that direction and saw a shadow. Someone was standing there. Aastha went there to open the window and peeped out. "Who is it?!!" she asked. But she got no reply. Aastha could sense some movement near the window. She quickly went out and hurried towards the outside of the window to see who it was. She could hear footsteps moving away from the bungalow towards the back gate. Aastha followed the sound but by the time she reached the back gate through the garden, the person was gone... Who was it?
*****
Edited by ..optimist.. - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
Fan Fictions
